QUICKLINKS

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BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

Banana industry transport figures for fruit harvested in Week 28 indicate minimal change on Week 27 with a total of 371,916 cartons harvested nationally. The weather patterns for the last week in the far north have seen early A.M. temperatures fall within a range of 9.4 - 16.3 C across all major growing regions; and day time temperatures ranging 24.6 - 28.7 C. Most of the North Qld banana growing regions had very minimal rain this week with Mareeba and Walkamin experiencing falls of 0-0.2mm; whilst 0-0.4mms fell across Innisfail and Tully regions. With cool temperatures overnight/early morning, we will no doubt continue to see the impact on fruit bloom and also resulting in slower growth rates, pushing bunch age out. This winter to date, has sent a number of colder mornings early in the season, combined with overcast days, which has taken us a little by surprise, particularly in relation to our ladyfinger crop, fruit is taking longer fill out and as such we have seen a staggering reduction in our weekly crop harvest figures by some 70-75% - it is expected this pattern will continue through until at least mid to late August.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland for cavendish bananas has remained stable this week with pricing as follows: Aldi’s banana ticket price at $3.99/kg; Woolies offered fruit at a ticket price of $4.00/kg; and Coles were offering fruit at $3.99/kg in the stores visited.

BANANA SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Aldi; Coles and Woolworths Cavendish Displays

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

🥑SUPPLY UPDATE

In a nutshell the national production figures for last week were as follows:

· Week 28, 2024 - The industry saw a 5.44% increase on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 427,726 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 23,000 more tray equivalents) on Week 27, 2024 production. The national harvest included Hass variety supplying 423,242 tray equivalents along with 4,484 trays of assorted other varieties in this week’s reported figures. We should note that of this total volume some 129K tray equivalents were in the form of bulks for prepacking/processing and 53K tray equivalents were exported which left a little over 245K tray equivalents for the domestic market.

Production across the country saw Central Queensland resume the lead in production accounting for 57.66% of the total volume, North Queensland accounting for a further 33.80%, then a growing supply from Southern Queensland accounting for 4.64%, WA/NT with 1.84% and finally CNSW, TNR and Sunshine Coast with harvests accounting for 1.29%; 0.40% and 0.38% respectively.

· It is forecast that a total of some 451,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 29) nationally, all of which is expected to be hass. Production for the next three week period thereafter, is expected to fall within the range of 400 to 410K tray equivalents per week. North Qld and Central Queensland are expected to continue supplying the majority of available fruit through until early to mid August, even though supply has slowly started to come from the other major growing regions: including Central NSW, Tri-states and WA. It is worth noting, that our grower partners located in SE Qld and in Victoria/Tri-states growing regions have all been experiencing very cold overnight/early morning temps, some have had frosts for several mornings in a row and are seeing the a percentage of their crop suffering frost damage and slowing growth rates - the most recent fruit maturity test results from the southern regions are still a way from being ready for harvest with readings of 21 to 21.3% this week.

In terms of Avocado retail in the major supermarkets in Qld and Adelaide this week we saw shelf prices as follows - Aldi’s Purpleskin and Avolution Hass this week with shelf tickets at $1.79 each; Coles Qld stores visited had Rock Ridge Hass avos at $2.20ea, and Woolworths Qld with Purpleskin and Australian Produce Partners (Howe Farming) supplied Hass at $2.00 - $2.20ea depending upon store visited. Independents were selling large class one fruit 2 for $5.00 with specials on small prepacks containing between 5 to 8 pieces for $3.99/bag.

AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Woolworths Hass; Aldi Hass and Coles Hass Avocados in Queensland stores

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

🍌Bananas at Woolworths

🥑Avocados at Woolworths

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI CARINDALE

Cavendish Bananas priced at $3.99/kg - fruit with good colour. Some skin marking and neck injuries still the main find.
Havana bananas also at $3.99/kg. Could be better quality.

ALDI MT OMMANEY

A display of Cavendish Bananas ticketed at $3.99/kg - a presence of bat/bird damage, sap stains and a few cuts and bruising observed.
Havana bananas at this store this week, $3.99/kg - these needed restocking.

ALDI MOUNT GRAVATT

A very full display of Cavendish Bananas ticketed at $3.99/kg - a low percentage of green tinged fruit on the display.
Havana bananas at $4.99ea.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES CARINDALE

Cavendish on display $4.00/kg, some with a green tinge.
Kids packs priced at $4.00ea.
Red Tips at $5.50/kg and Lady Fingers $7.90/kg.

COLES MT OMMANEY

Cavendish on display $3.99/kg. Kids packs priced at $4.00ea.
Red Tips at $5.50/kg. Lady Fingers $7.90/kg. Organic at $6.00/kg.

COLES MOUNT GRAVATT

Cavendish on display $4.00/kg with good colour and bloom. Kids packs priced at $4.00ea. Defects found: neck injuries, bruising and skin marking.
No Red Tips. Lady Fingers $7.90/kg. Organic at $6.90/kg.

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS CARINDALE

Cavendish priced at $4.00/kg. Bloom was varied with some bright hued and others dull. Kids packs at $2.50ea.
Lady Fingers $8.00/kg. Red Tips at $5.50/kg. Organic at $6.00/kg.

WOOLWORTHS MT OMMANEY

The display of Cavendish priced at $4.00/kg. Good colour and appropriately sectioned in ‘Eat Now’ and ‘Eat Later’. Kids packs at $2.50ea.
Lady Fingers $8.00/kg - some skinny fingers, and Red Tips $5.50/kg. Organic at $6.00/kg.

WOOLWORTHS MOUNT GRAVATT

Cavendish bananas priced at $4.00/kg. Well presented - good colour, only minimal neck injuries amongst this display.
Lady Fingers at $8.00/kg and Red Tipped at $5.50/kg.
Organic at $6.90/kg.

AVOCADOS AT ALDI